What a super cute way to herald in a New Year of diving; my first ever sighting of a short-head seahorse, Hippocampus breviceps at Rapid Bay.

There is no reason why I should not have seen a seahorse under Rapid Bay Jetty in the hundreds of dives I have enjoyed here. I just haven’t. Even my dive buddy Alexius had never seen a short-head seahorse here and he is one of the best critter spotters I know.

Actually this little guy was under the new Jetty which has a different kind of benthic structure. More sea-grasses and less algaes so maybe that has something to do with it.

Perhaps I will spend a little more time exploring the new Jetty from now on. Who knows what surprises await.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Super Cute Surprise’ 1/160s f/18 ISO320 100mm